Connect
← Return to Tachycardia following Ablation
Discussion
Tachycardia following Ablation
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (32)Comment receiving replies
Yes, it is exceedingly common to have both tachycardia and even short runs of AF during the blanking period. In fact, the latest science suggests that if one has some short runs of AF early in the blanking period, it is a much better sign than being AF-free for several weeks and then to start having some AF show up late in the blanking period. Bottom line, though, is that each heart gets to say how it feels about what was done to it. Each heart starts an ablation with a different history and a different condition, not to mention valve condition, enlargement of the atrium, state of heart failure if that is part of the history, and so on. We're all unique when we lie back on the gurney. Similarly, unless the ablation has missed something, we'll all experience something unique during our recovery. Some people report that they had elevated HR for many months, but over time it began to slow and now they're normally at 70 BPM.
The heart has been roughly handled. It will be cranky. It might have been cranky for some time if you had been having a lot of PACs or AF in the weeks prior to the surgery.
One other common fact is that people who have otherwise successful ablations will break into flutter. Their AF will go away, which is great, but suddenly their heart rate soars to 180 plus. This will be flutter, and it can sometimes, not often, be corrected by a cardioversion at the ER, or the EP will want to go in again and correct what he knows to be missing from the first effort at ablation. Flutter is often easier to fix than the initial AF that started the whole ball of wax.
Finally, don't be too dismayed if your first ablation doesn't work. The failure rate across the global medical community is about 25%. It's a tricky procedure, and remember that each heart has its own history and unique expression of AF, which the EP has to figure out while he/she's in there poking around. The great news is that a second ablation enjoys a predicted 80% success rate, which, when added to the 75% success rate of the first effort, makes for a pretty salutary outcome for anyone who finds that their first ablation didn't quite work.
Replies to "Yes, it is exceedingly common to have both tachycardia and even short runs of AF during..."
I actually joined this website so I could post a reply saying Thank you so much for this great response, one that all EPs should give to their ablation patients.
In three days I'll be four months past my ablation. I'm grateful that I only had intermittent AFib and flutter, so I'm supposed to be able to expect a good outcome. I just tonight, for the first time, had a short run of tachy, and only at 105. I think it went on for just about 15 minutes then back down to 74, though my usual resting is 60. I Googled this, and lo and behold, no one ever told me that tachycardia post ablation is common. I swear I've found 90 percent of my info online instead of from my doctors, very discouraging. Thank goodness for all the good people online, posting what they post.
I haven't felt anything I would consider as AF -- when I feel something kind of fluttery, as though the AF monster is trying to crash the party again, it goes away in just a minute or two, not enough time to get my Kardia out and do a scan. These little flutters are evenly spaced and mostly come at night. I'm eager to get my next Holter (not until April) to see what it shows. I just weaned off Metoprolol and really really really don't want to have to go back on it, because it caused really bad nightmares and just plain poor sleep.
Anyway, I don't have a question or anything, I just felt comfortable ranting here! 🙂 I don't have anyone to talk to about this -- I'm single, and my daughter and son-in-law have their hands more than full with a toddler and now an infant, too, and I'm new to the area and haven't made any friends close enough that I'd expect them to listen to me about my heart condition. Thanks, all of you who I haven't met, for providing a community, and best wishes to all of us and our cranky hearts!
Connect
My flutter is what started my A-fib. After fixing my flutter the EP says the good news is you flutter is gone the bad news is you have A-fib in your future.
So a few years later A-fib became a problem and then I had an ablation in 2019.
The past 6 months I have had 6 episodes a F-fib lasting a couple of days each and then self converting. Then this past Jan I had a full month alternating PACs, PVCs and SVTs that was not fun. For couple of weeks my burden seemed to be rather high but I could still carefully get some exercise in even if skippy was acting up. Then it started to improve esp. at night time I could get down to my normal baseline resting HR of 48. Yes 48 my whole life. In the meantime I got an appointment for Feb 13 which at that time was a month off. So last night I wake up to use the bathroom and I am back in A-fib without all the PVCs, PACs and SVTs. Just good old A-fib that wipes me out and I cannot do a thing. So I will see them Tuesday and will have to drive home just how bad things have been. So I am beating away a 84 BPM and I hate it. I noticed on their new website (large university medical center) they now claim a 90% A-fib success rate on the 1st attempt. I am glad I changed my oil last week and got a little firewood cut cause right now I am weak. Just turned 76.